so how long did it take.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

So how long did it take for somebody to offer you a job in the industry you wanted to work in ?

I'm just wondering if my personal statistics of job hunting are normal as so far I think I've sent out about 156ish applications over a 2.5 month period(noting that before a couple of my temp jobs I'd been looking for about a 14 months and sent out a whole load more) had 2 interviews (one was a fishing expedition) , 3 rejection letters (harsh ones you are not a suitable candiate).

regale me with your tales of no experience to your current job ,
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G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

A year or so.

Wanted an IT job, but no one was really interested.
Ended up with a job in a coffee shop - management changed / messed me about, so I started looking again.
Within a few weeks I had an excellent opportunity doing what I wanted.

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Sort of happened by accident. Embarassed

I was a single parent on the dole when I got offered 4 weeks casual work at the local Tax Office where my mum worked. I stayed there for 8 years!

Then I was ringing a local business to chase up payment of their monthly PAYE payment. "You know" says the boss "I could really do with a decent credit controller to sort out some of the outstanding debt this Company has. Don't suppose you fancy a change.....?" As it happened, he made me a really good packeage offer and I did fancy a change anyway.

Worked for them for 4 years, left due to a change of ownership and bummed around doing Agency stuff for a year or so, then started my own business working with some of the people the agencies had sent me to. My ex-boss then contacted me to discuss a partnership arrangement for a new business idea he had, so I looked at the options and went into that too.

It's definitely who you know in this business. Thumbs Up

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instigator · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Oct 2004 Karma :

2nd application. 2nd interview.

Tried one after 1st eyar of Uni, didn't get it as I didn't have a clue how to answer the questions in an interview.

Second time round, after 2nd year, mastered the interview technique and managed to pass the telephone interview and panel interview. Thumbs Up

Although only a summer placement, it's turned into a sponsorship and full time job in a month. Crying or Very sad

A good technique taught by our University careers advisor is to make every covering letter DIFFERENT. Quite why we should do this I don't know. Good practise? Make it look as if we've not generated 150 of the same letter? But it worked.

Rookie · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Feb 2005 Karma :

The business found me really, I didn't know I wanted to be in it when I got the job. Working at a takeaway, we got a new pizza driver who did weekends to make ends meet while he started his own marketing consultancy company. When he quit, he offered me a part time job, I took it, and now he's offered me a full time place as Number 2. I realised this was the stuff I loved; I've always been interested in media and the way it's used on consumers; I'm a total cynic about it, and hate conglomerates with a passion, but as long as I'm working somewhere where I feel the consumer isn't being completely exploited, I enjoy it. And now he's got his own premises and 4 weekly networking conferences across the SW.

Course, at my stage I need to decide whether it's worth going to university and continuing part time with this job over the internet, or whether uni will be an utter waste of time. Confused

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

rookie , yup university is the biggest waste of time ever even with a 1st class its not worth the paper its printed on, good thing I worked at the same time and didn't destroy my working income during this period.(didn't work in the same sector as I studied)
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

yambabe · World Chat Champion Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

Nah, I'm old remember? The IR didn't have call centres back in 1989, they hadn't even had computers for very long at the time! Rolling Eyes

I went for 4 weeks to do filing, issuing stock letters for payment (I was a Collector), phoning to request payment etc etc. After the first 4 weeks they offered me another 4 weeks, then another 4 weeks after that. I then got called to the Regional Office in Liverpool one Friday for an "interview". This consisted of:
Regional Manager: You seem to have picked this work up really quickly.
Me: Thank you.
RM: Do you have anything else lined up as you're due to finish today?
Me: Not really, no.
RM: Well you can start in a permanent position on Monday if you like, on £x salary. Here's a contract.
Me: Oh, OK, thanks.

Whole thing took less than 10 minutes! It was one of those very bizarre life experiences......... Laughing

I don't think it could happen like that these days somehow.
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Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

might be worth a look in I still reckon ,

just that first step is sooo difficult and one I have no control over due to the fact that you need experience which cannot be gotten unless you already have it.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

cagiva gezzer · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Karma :

Agree with who you know, not what you know.

Got my current graduate job from taking a random job with a building services company the week after graduation. Really random, just 4 weeks to fill the gaps which turned into permanent. Then got chatting to a subbie from the water treatment, gave him my cv and had a job the next month.

Barney · Spanner Monkey Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Karma :

One phone call. Company number given to me by a mates Mum and I was sorted.

Its not what you know, its who you know - contacts. Thats the only way I have ever got jobs.

djr · World Chat Champion Joined: 09 Nov 2003 Karma :

About two week after I left college I was into my first job in IT, that was two years ago now, will probably be moving on soon.

Itchy · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Apr 2005 Karma :

bastids!

, been wish I wus as lucky as you guys, still chasing leads at the mo .
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

mrchips · World Chat Champion Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Karma :

Took about a month or two for me to find someone for my apprenticeship as people either don't want an apprentice or can't afford an apprentice.
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Mary Jane · Traffic Copper Joined: 11 Jul 2005 Karma :

Mrs Kickstart · Brolly Dolly Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Karma :

Hi,

First time about 150 applications over 3 months , 1 interview and I was offered the job as 3rd choice because the wages were crap.

2nd time ( 10 months later) easy 2 interviews the first I did not want the second offer more than twice my salary.

That first job is a bugger I just applied for anything I could event remotly be qualified for (and quite few I wasnt) and I was also working through the 'computer users year book' applying to any medium/large company on the off chance.

Good luck and persist

Regards
C
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